Rookie wide receivers were by and large a disappointing bunch in 2017.

Cooper Kupp, Juju Smith-Schuster and running back Alvin Kamara were the only rookies who ranked in the top 50 of the NFL in catches, and the three receivers taken in the top 10 – Corey Davis, Mike Williams and John Ross – combined for just 45 receptions all year.

But while early returns were disappointing for the group as a whole, Detroit Lions rookie Kenny Golladay did enough to convince at least one analyst that he’s a future star.

“He’s a No. 1 wide receiver,” CBS and NFL Network analyst Nate Burleson said at the Super Bowl earlier this month. “Kenny Golladay is a monster.”

Golladay missed five games because of a hamstring injury and caught just 28 passes on the season, but he averaged 17 yards per catch, the sixth most among qualifying players with at least one catch per game.

Sept. 10, 2017: Kenny Golladay makes a diving catch for a 45-yard TD vs. the Cardinals late in the fourth quarter. Golladay finished his NFL debut with four catches for 69 yards and two TDs. Jose Juarez, AP

Sept. 24, 2017: Golden Tate is touched down at the 1-yard line by Falcons cornerback Brian Poole on the final play of the game at Ford Field. Originally ruled a touchdown, officials overturned the call after a replay review, giving the Falcons a 30-26 win. Rey Del Rio, Getty Images

Oct. 1: Vikings receiver Adam Thielen fumbles the ball as he is tackled by Lions safeties Glover Quin (27) and Miles Killebrew late in the fourth quarter in Minneapolis. The Lions recovered the ball, sealing their 14-7 victory. Jim Mone, AP

Oct. 8, 2017: Panthers tight end Ed Dickson is upended by Lions safety Tavon Wilson, background, as safety Miles Killebrew (35) flies in the air during the second half in Detroit. The Lions lost, 27-24. Paul Sancya, AP

Oct. 8, 2017: Panthers quarterback Cam Newton played a lot like his MVP self from two seasons ago in this game, passing for 355 yards and three touchdowns in the 27-24 win over the Lions at Ford Field. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press

Oct. 15, 2017: The Lions simply couldn't hang on to the football in New Orleans. The Saints' Alex Okafor forced this fumble by Lions QB Matthew Stafford in the first half of Detroit's 52-38 loss. The Lions had five turnovers that day. Jonathan Bachman, Getty Images

Oct. 15, 2017: Lions rookie Jamal Agnew helped fans turn the TV back to the game after his 74-yard punt return for a touchdown cut the deficit to 14 early in the fourth quarter. Detroit had been down, 45-10, midway through the third quarter. Butch Dill, AP

Oct. 15, 2017: Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan put the exclamation point on ending the Lions' comeback hopes with his interception in the end zone for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Lions' 52-38 loss in New Orleans. Bill Feig, AP

Oct. 29, 2017: The Lions could have used Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders on this night. They were unable to reach the end zone, settling for five field goals and failing on a fourth-and-goal situation, too. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press

Nov. 6, 2017: It's ordinarily a matchup of Matthew Stafford and Aaron Rodgers when the Lions and Packers square off. This season, Rodgers was injured and missed both games, including the first in Green Bay, where Stafford threw for 361 yards and two touchdowns in the 30-17 win. Mike Roemer, AP

Nov. 12, 2017: The Lions actually trailed the winless Browns, 24-17, late in the third quarter but then scored 21 unanswered points. The go-ahead score was a 29-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Eric Ebron in the fourth quarter. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press

Nov. 19, 2017: Lions defensive back DJ Hayden is congratulated by teammates Tavon Wilson, left, and Jeremiah Valoaga after he recovered a Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky fumble and returned it for a touchdown during the Lions' 27-24 win in Chicago. John Starks, AP

Nov. 19, 2017: The Lions picked Matt Prater over Bears kicker Connor Barth a few years ago and Prater showed why. His 52-yarder with 1:35 remaining was the difference as the Lions stayed undefeated in the division. Kirthmon F. Dozier, TNS

Dec. 3, 2017: The Lions let their game at Baltimore get out of hand early, falling behind, 20-0, by halftime. A small comeback cut the lead to seven, but Javorius Allen, left, and the Ravens scored 24 points in the fourth for a 44-20 win. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press

Dec. 3, 2017: The Lions' patchwork offensive line struggled to keep Matthew Stafford upright much of the day. He was sacked three times and had his hand stepped on, forcing an early exit. Stafford threw for 292 yards, a touchdown and an interception in the 24-point loss. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press

Dec. 10, 2017: With playoff contention on the line, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford delivered with 381 yards passing and a touchdown against the Bucs. Though two interceptions kept it close, the Lions won in Tampa, Fla., 24-21. Jason Behnken, AP

Dec. 16, 2017: It was a bit of a sleepy performance on a rare Saturday game at Ford Field, but Matthew Stafford throw for 237 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Bears. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press

Dec. 24, 2017: The Lions' offense struggled much of the game against one of the league's worst defenses. Ameer Abdullah had 21 yards rushing, and as as a team, Detroit was outrushed, 142-87. David Kohl, USA TODAY Sports

Dec. 31, 2017: Lions running back Ameer Abdullah, right, celebrates his touchdown with Eric Ebron in the fourth quarter against the Packers at Ford Field. The Lions won the season finale, 35-11. Abdullah finished the season with 552 yards rushing on 165 carries (3.3 average) and four TDs. Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

Dec 31, 2017: Matthew Stafford caught a two-point conversion from Golden Tate in the fourth quarter, then launched the ball into the crowd. Stafford finished the season with 29 passing TDs and 19 turnovers (10 INTs, 9 lost fumbles) to go with 4,446 yards passing and 7.87 yards per attempt, the best of his career. Raj Mehta, USA TODAY Sports

At 6 feet 4 and 214 pounds, Golladay has the size, strength and speed to be a dominant pass catcher, and the third-round pick out of Northern Illinois was able to make an impact while playing primarily as the Lions’ No. 3 receiver behind Marvin Jones and Golden Tate.

“One thing that jumps off is his catch radius,” said Burleson, who played his final four NFL seasons for the Lions. “Most of his plays, he’s like fully extending himself. I saw him go completely parallel to the ground and I seen him explode up in the air. I identify with guys that were drafted in the third round, so as soon as he made those couple plays I was like, ‘Hold on, who is this dude?’ Cause I’m watching TJ Jones rocking the 13, like, ‘All right, they got a good receiving corps.’ And then this dude wearing 19 is just going nuts.”

“I know how (Matthew) Stafford thinks. Certain guys that lay out and expose themselves in the middle of the field and are fearless in the way they attack the ball, he likes to feed those dudes,” Burleson said. “So I do feel like he has a chance to be a No. 1. And he will be. It depends on what happens. He’s in a system right now where Golden’s got to get the ball, Marvin’s got to get the ball. You’ve got tight end play and running backs that catch the ball out of the backfield. I don’t want him to get lost in the sauce, but I do feel like he’s that hidden gem that’s next up.”